Teen arrested over bomb threat at Sonoma school

A 17-year-old Sonoma Valley High School student was arrested on suspicion of making a bomb threat at the school on Wednesday afternoon, a Sonoma County sheriff's sergeant said.

Five other students were cited for their alleged involvement, Sgt. Dave Thompson said.

Thompson said that during lunchtime, the students cordoned off a small area of the campus with "caution" tape, placed a garbage can in the middle of the space and left handwritten signs stating "There is a bomb" around the garbage can.

School officials evacuated classrooms near the garbage can and placed the school on lockdown around 12:50 p.m., Thompson said.

The sheriff's bomb squad used a remote-controlled robot to determine that there was not an explosive in the trashcan, Thompson said.

Students were dismissed from school at 1:55 p.m., the usual time, and exited the campus along a secure route, Thompson said.

School Resource Officer Matt Regan investigated the incident and identified the six students who were involved, Thompson said.

The students admitted the hoax and the 17-year-old boy was booked into juvenile hall for making a false report of a bomb threat and making a criminal threat, Thompson said.